Asian Citrus Psyllid Quarantine Expands in 2 Areas

DINUBA, Calif. (AP) — The California Department of Food and Agriculture has placed two more areas under quarantine due to the Asian citrus psyllid, which can carry the disease known as huanglongbing, or citrus greening.

Tuesday's additions follow detections of psyllids in Dinuba in Tulare County and in Wasco in Kern County.

The 90-square-mile quarantine in Tulare County is in addition to an existing zone in the Porterville area. The Kern County zone measures 88 square miles.

Host nursery stock may not be moved out of the zones without a permit, and commercial citrus fruit must be cleaned of leaves and stems prior to movement. Backyard citrus should not be moved from the area.

Quarantines are also in place in Ventura, Santa Barbara, San Diego, Imperial, Orange, Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Riverside counties.